Survey of initial heroin abuse among drug users in Xichang county of Sichuan province

  Objective   To investigate the factors associated with the initial heroin abuse among drug users in Xichang county, Sichuan province.

  Methods   During May to July 2004, a community-based survey was conducted to collect the demogr aphic characteristics, initial time, route and type of drug used, smoke, drank and family members, peer or friends, or relatives used drug before initial drug using.

  Results   Atotal of 451 drug users were inter viewed.The initial drug used was the heroin.Of all subjects, 80.7% and 19.3% reported the init ial route of sniffed and injected heroin, respectively.The average incidence of drug initiation was 4.43/100 person years(95% CI 4.02~4.84).Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model indicated that age of smoking before drug initiation(15 years old HR=1.54;95% CI=1.25~1.83)and ethnicity(HR=1.47;95% CI=1.22~1.78)were independently associated with time to drug initiation, respectively.

  Conclusion   It should be needed to clarify factors contributed to the drug initiation, in order to provide the scientific guideline for drug prevention through health educat ion and behav ioral intervention.